Another White Whale Harpooned!

For my improper use collection, I've always wanted a Scott #R13e (2c Proprietary, ultramarine, CV = $400) used on document. I'd never seen any in over 25 years. Mike Mahler's document book states 2 known on-document uses recorded as of 1999.

One came up in one of Eric Jackson's 3-week auctions and I decided to bid. I can never predict what things will sell for there. There are times when things go for a fraction of what they should, and other where they sell for 10x what they should... what's amusing to me is when an item sells for more in the auction than Eric has his retail stock priced at online.

Surprisingly, I won the lot for only 25% of my maximum bid, so I'm quite pleased. The document itself is a bit tattered at left from where it was removed from a binder, but IMO that doesn't detract. The stamp is initialed "J.M.L." in the same violet ink as used at the bottom of the billhead, and is tied ever so slightly at right.

An incredibly scarce use that I can now chalk off the list!

EDIT: Per Mike this afternoon, the number was still at 2 known, 26 years later, so this is currently the third known example of R13e on document.

Congrats! I'm not into revenue stamps, but that's a very nice piece.

Nothing better than the thrill of the chase

The catch must rank right up there too, don't you think?

Congratulations on identifying #3 with the pleasure of owning it.

I've always found the catch to have more of an element of relief rather than excitement.

Very nice -- and congratulations on finding that. FYI: I couldn't resist so I looked up that address in lower Manhattan because I'd never heard of "Rose Street" before. That entire street which was the location of this business in Manhattan shown on the map on that invoice no longer even exists, so the building is long gone. It's now various city government buildings and freeways in lower Manhattan. Progress.

I've also always been a bit surprised at how sloppy clerks and others were when they affixed such things as revenue stamps upside down and otherwise. What's so hard about attaching it right side up? Many early letters have the same odd lack of attaching stamps neatly and in the right location. I'd guess this is in the same category as early postmaster absolutely destroying stamps with massive black cancellations.

Because their priority wasn't the aesthetics of the paperwork, but to complete it and move on to the next one. They weren't looking at it through the lens of future collectors...

Exactly the same mindset of todays Postal Clerks!!!

The building of the Brooklyn Bridge almost certainly destroyed those streets behind William Street first, and then buildings went up around it. When I was a boy, one could still get on the bridge from what is called Chatham Street, but they built the new police station and closed it off several decades ago.